Gconf: No database found

[Steve Vertigan <vertigan bigfoot com>]

I've just compiled and installed GConf uneventfully as part of Gnome
1.4.  However as soon as I start Nautilus it gives me the following
error

GConf Error:
No database available to save your configuration:

Can anyone tell me how to remedy this?  I've installed everything 
relating to Gconf under /opt/gnome except popt which was already 
installed as part of my base system.

Thanks,
Steve